Continuous tape blade safety razor



Oct. 8, 1957 Filed Oct. 11. 1954 E. W. GENT CONTINUOUS TAPE BLADE SAFETY RAZOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ED GAR WGENZ BY W4 PM ATTORNEY.

Oct. 8, 1957 E. w. GENT CONTINUOUS TAPE BLADE SAFETY RAZOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11, 1954 INVENTOR.

50am WGENT,

M (2% ATTORNEY.

E. W. GENT CONTINUOUS TAPE BLADE SAFETY RAZOR Oct. 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 11. 1954 ZDGAR M. X M;

ATTORNEV.

United States Patent O CONTHNUGU TAPE BLADE SAFETY RAZOR Edgar W. Gent, Morristown, N. J. Application October 11, 1954, SerialNo. 461,490

7 Claims. (Cl. 30-40) This invention relates to a continuous tape blade safety razor and more particularly to a safety razor with the means for containing and dispensing a disposable continuous, tape blade.

This application is a continuation in part of my co.- pending application, Serial No. 260,621, filed December 8, 1951, now Patent No. 2,705,364, dated April 5, 1955.

It is an object of my invention to provide a safety nazor of relatively simple and economical construction employing a minimum number of parts or details of manufacture.

Another object of my invention is to provide a razor with novel means for holding a supply of tape blade of material length and which can be properly positioned in a shaving zone in said razor and novel means for taking up the used portion of the tape.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor for containing supply and take up means for a tape blade which extends substantially around the perimeter of the razor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compact safety razor requiring a minimum number of parts to make and assemble and in which the body and handle member form a one-piece structure and which accommodates a magazine for a roll of razor tape and a magazine for taking up the spent or used portion of the tape.

Another object of my invention is to provide a razor of unitary construction having a spiral type tape blade therein adapted to be moved across the shaving zone for providing a plurality of shaves.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a safety razor of triangular shape in which the faces thereof have tape confining means and the base portion is longitudinally extended so as to form a surface mount-v ing a blade having a cutting edge which can be moved to bring into shaving position an unused section of blade.

Another object of my invention is to provide a quick and ready means whereby the used tape can be disposed of in its magazine and a new magazine properly insorted and positioned without hazard to the operator.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a safety razor which includes novel means for mounting a tape blade over the shaving zone, which mounting means may be opened and moved forwardly to permit a new blade length to be brought into position and then as readily closed upon the tape to support the same from both sides thereof.

- It is still another object of the present invention to provide a safety razor of the above type which includes releasable mounting means for engaging the tape in the shaving zone which upon being closed automatically positions the tape against a plurality of stop members to insure correct positioning at all times of the cutting edge of the tape with respect to the shaving zone.

It is still another object of the present invention to the blade along its longitudinal edge remote from its,

cutting edge.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a safety razor which is particularly adapted for use by members of the armed forces and for travelers and which contains in long period supply of tape' blades and eliminates the need for extra razor blades, and dispensers or the like, as well as being more accessible than the latter.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure .1 is a frontal face view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; b

Fig. 5 is a detail taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the close tolerance between blade and sides of accommodating groove v Fig. 6 is a detail taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, also showing the wide tolerance between blade and sides of accommodating groove to permit warping;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the lid or cover for the body or container of the magazine;

Fig. 8 is 'a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the body or container of the magazine forming another part of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a spiral roll of blade tape hardened to form such a roll, forming part of the invention; and

Fig. 12 is a rear elevational view of the razor head.

Referring now to the drawings in which similar reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, it will be noted that I provide a razor 16 having a handle 11 and a body member 12 integral with said handle. Said handle 11 is inclined with respect to the front plane 13 of the body'portion to lend ease in shaving. It will be noted that said handle and body portion are integral with and relatively disposed at an angle with respect to each other. Said front plane 13 is provided with a front recess 14, Fig. 4, provided with bayonet slots 15, Fig. l, for accommodating bayonet pin-16 on magazine 17, Fig. 4, which is adapted to fit into said recess 14.

The rear plane surface 18 is provided with a rear opening or recess 19 containing bayonet slots 20, Fig. 12, for

provide a safety razor of the above type wherein the accommodating bayonet pins 21a of receiving or take-up magazine 22, Fig. 4, for a tape blade 23. It will be noted that the plane of said rear surface 18 is substantially parallel to the front plane 13. The body portion 12, as shown in Fig. l, is of substantially triangular shape with its apex 24 merging with handle 11, thus leaving the base or free contacting portion 25 extending upwardly and angularly with respect to said handle 11. Said body portion, furthermore, is provided with continuous groove or slot 267which extends in the body from opening 14 to the right side 27 of body portion 12, then curves laterally 'into the shaving zone recess 27a in the face contacting portion, then. downwardly and at an, in-- cline in groove or slot 28 and obliquely into the opening 19, Fig. 12, in the rear face. This slot accommodates the spiral roll of tape blade 23 extending from magazine17-as shown in. Fig. 5. 26 allows for minimum clearance of the blade 23 therein (Fig. while the, slot 28 (Fig. 6) allows a relatively wide clearance. to permit. warping the tape as it passes rearwardly of the razor.

As to the tape. blade 23,. it is. spiral. hardened and'is in the form of a tape. of material? length, very thin and narrow and sharpened along one edge. Each end, however, is unsharpened to permit handling and. loading in the razor 10, and the entire. length is hardened to form a spiral in its normal free state. Due to the initial curvature of this type of blade, smaller radii can be used in the end portions of the shaving zone in. the face contacting portion because there is less distortion in the blade due to. its initial curvature. Also, it. is to be noted that with a spirally hardened blade, there is less friction drag when the blade is dispensed from the supply magazine since there is less distortion of the roll when it is in place in the magazine. When the normally urved blade is in position in the horizontal. shaving zone, it exerts a flexing effort as will hereinafter become clear which results in a retaining efiect at the shaving zone.

Magazine 17 as shown in Fig. 4 of. the drawings includes a cup member 29- and a lid 30 shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The description of magazine 17 is similar to magazine 22 shown in Fig. 4 and will not be taken up herein because they are of the same construction. The magazine cup 29,, as. shown, is provided with spaced slots 31 inv circular wall 311: which. extend from the open end to the base 32. The base, as will be noted, is a plane fiat surface and is. provided. with two diametrically opposed bayonet pins 16,, as herein above indicated, which. are located on the outer surface and. flush with the undersurface of the face 32. The. top rim 33 of. said cup 29 is outwardly and inwardly bent to provideanoverhanging portion 35 which aids in. tightly snapping the: cover or lid thereon (Fig. 4).

It will be noted that because of the construction of the cup 29 the diameter: of the top lip 35 is. such that when spiral roll of blades 23 is inserted and the lid or cover is snapped on or into final position the top of the cup 29 is reduced in. diameter causing the normally cylindrical cup cubage to take on. a frustum of a cone cubage. In this manner the outer surface of the'roll of tape is positioned in contact with. the inside of the bottom of the cup, thus insuring that the-blade will be free of any damage to its cutting edge and also the blade will be withdrawn or dispensed with the same relationship to the landing surface at the bottom of the channel or groove leading to the shaving zone so that the blade will always be properly positioned therewithin.

In somewhat similar manner the tape at the other end of the shaving zone, when it is withdrawn by operation of magazine 22, Fig. 4, will also be properly positioned against the bottom of the shaving zone due to proper positioning of the bottom of the slide in the magazine cup by the sharp edge of the blade when it is engaged with the inside surface of the bottom of the take-up magazine cup. In positioning a new blade, the cover provided with hub 30a, Fig. 8, of the take-up magazine is rotated until the slot 36 in the cover is in line with thetape slot 36a in the cup.

The tape outlet slot 36a is provided in the cup of the magazine properly located with respect to the bayonet fastenings. When magazine 22 is used in the take up position, the end of the tape can be readily inserted in the slot.36 and into the slot in thestud which is in line with the slot. in the cover and forms an integral part thereof. The razor: would be supplied initially with a magazine of new blade and an empty take up 'magaziire having its cover snapped/in final position; Whenthe' supply of blade, is. exhausted, the taheup. magazine and It will be noted-that the slot.

used blade are removed and discarded 'as a unit. The empty supply magazine is: then replaced by a new magazine of blade and the empty supply magazine Will be put into position as a take up magazine.

The cover or lid 30 will preferably be of transparent plastic material, such as Lucite to show at a glance the supply of tape available in the cup or magazine and to enable the operator to more readily insert tape into the slot of the take up magazine.

Take up magazine 22 can easily be operated by merely rotating knurled lid 30 whereupon the tape blade from roll 23 is drawnv in the desired amount through the slots 26, recess 27a, Fig. 4 slot 28' and into the take up magazine.

As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the side wall 40 of the lid 30 is provided on its inner surface with an annular groove 41 into which the overhang 35 will be resiliently retained (Fig. 4). Theend of hub 30a is also provided with a cylindrical. extension 42 of less diameter than the hub 30a and which is received through. a central opening. 43 provided in the cup 29 and which extends into a central opening. 44- provided in the body 12. The provision of the extensions 42 and central openings 43, 44 serve to center the lids with respect to their cups.

Means are provided for insuring the proper p0sitioning of the. blade within the shaving zone which. means not only facilitates the positioning of the blade therewithin but serves to properly space the same with respect to the razor shaving area.

The upper edge of the body 12 at its front face 13 is integrally formed with a. laterally projecting guide bar 44' having a sharp right angle edge 45 which contacts the face of the. user, the face being disposed in the plane A-A (Figs. 2 and 4). The upper face of the guide bar 44' spaced inwardly from the edge 45 is downwardly and rearwardly beveled as at 46 Where it connects with av lateral projection. 47 integrally formed on the rear face. of the body (Fig. 4). The rear face 18 of the body por tion at opposite ends of the beveled portion 46 (Fig. 4) isprovided with the downwardly and outwardly inclined slots 48.

A plurality of spaced stop pins 49 are embedded in a: position forwardly of the beveled portion 46 with their. upper ends extending upwardly a slight distance beyond. the upper face of the guide bar 44'.

- A pair of jaws 50 and 51. are joined together along a hollow cylindrical portion 52, the jaws 50, 51 overlying each. other and beingprovided with the vertically aligned, elongated slots 53, which. receive upwardly therethrouglr the steps 49. The jaws 50, 51 are. adapted to retain thcrebetween in tensional engagement the blade 23, supporting the latter from. both its upper and. lower surfaces. The tape will be positioned laterally between the jaws. by abutment of its unsharpened longitudinal edge with the stops 49. The jaw Slat opposite ends is integrally formed with the downwardly bent lugs or ears 54 which are received within the slots 48.

' The cylindrical portion 52 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced openings 55 as shown in Fig. 12 and which receive therethrough the ends of the U-shaped lever 56, the openings 55 extending through substantially one hundred eighty degrees across the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 52 to permit the rotation of lever 56 from the vertical full line position of Fig. 4 to the position shown in phantom. The ends of lever 56 are integrally formed with the enlargements 57 (Fig. 4) having cam surfaces formed therein which permit the resilient engagement of the blade 23 by jaws 50, 51 when the lever 56 is in a vertical position but which separate the jaws when the latter is raised to a horizontal position.

' A pair of resilient stops 58 are secured to the rear face of thebody 12 and serve to retain the lever 56 ion locked vertical position, terminating in enlargements whichembrace the leveron opposite sides: As shown in Fig. 4, the projection 47 serves as a fulcrum when the lever 56 is snapped into the downwardly displaced vertical position which in effect draws the jaws 50, 51 rearwardly until the stops 49 abut the forward end of the slots 53. However, upon rotating the lever 56 upwardly to the phantom position of Fig. 4, the jaws 50, 51 will be displaced apart and simultaneously their forward edges will be moved forwardly until the rear ends of the slots 53 abut the stops 49.

The supply magazine will have a protruding free end which is held by a piece of adhesive tape or the like which permits the easy and ready removal of the tape to a length of about five inches. This end portion will, of course, be unsharpened to prevent accidental cuts when loading the razor. The supply magazine will be mounted on the front face of the razor by means of the bayonet slots and bayonet pins 16 whereupon the lever 56 will be raised to the horizontal position. This latter movement causes the jaws 50 to be displaced apart, while at the same time moving them forwardly in the manner described. A new blade length is brought into position intermediate the jaws 50, 51 from the supply magazine. Then the lever is lowered, rotating the cam surfaces 57 sufficient to permit the drawing together of jaws 50, 51 about the blade. The lever 56 is then forced downwardly and snapped into the final position of Fig. 4 intermediate the stops 58 which action causes the jaws 50, 51 to move rearwardly until the forward ends of slots 53 abut the stops 49, thus bringing the blade back to abutment with the stops and insuring correct positioning of the cutting edge with respect to the guide bar 44 (Figs. 2 and 4).

It will be noted that the jaws 50, 51 will resiliently engage the blade 23, so as to retain the blade in a relatively flat position in the face contacting portion. Such a tight fit prevents any mobility of the blade in this area and also affords excellent shaving qualities of the blade in the body portion. It will also be noted that the cutting edge of the blade 23 is set back from the front face of the guide bar 44 providing a cutting action along the plane AA.

When the normally curved blade is in position between jaws 50, 51, it exerts a flexing effort and this results in a retaining effort within the channel at the shaving zone.

The close tolerance of the slot 26 protects the cutting edge of blade 23, while the relatively large tolerance of the slot 23 permits warping of the blade as it is drawn rearwardly through the head portion.

The tape blade 23 is relatively thin and narrow, employing over an equivalent length about one-tenth the steel normally consumed in conventional blades. Such a blade can be made by relatively simple operation in long lengths without expensive punches and dies and Will be formed of stainless material. The confinement of the blade intermediate the jaws 50 and 51 will prevent the usual difficulties arising from dried soap.

Preferably the tape at opposite ends will be suitably marked to indicate to the user the correct amount to pull from the capsule when a new one is inserted.

The razor will preferably be formed of molded plastic or other suitable material. The base portion 32 of the cup 29 may be formed of magnetized material so as to draw the blade downwardly thereagainst to protect the cutting edge. In such a case the side wall 31a will be formed of a non-magnetic material, for example plastic, as would the lid 30. This would, of course, facilitate the insertion of the blade within the capsule or the magazine.

The body of the razor would preferably be formed of plastic or other inexpensive, serviceable material, light in weight and capable of withstanding boiling water. The material of the body would also preferably be capable of withstanding fracture in the event it is accidentally dropped.

The three stop pins 49 insure the proper positioning of the blade 23 when drawn thereagainst and if desired may be integrally formed of plastic as a part of the head 12.

In using the thin blade 23, it is essential that the cutting edge be supported and this has been accomplished by means of the jaws 50, 51 which are thin and can be adjusted out to the zone of the guide bar 44', the blade being supported on the upper and lower surfaces thereof. It will be noted that with this construction the blade is held firmly throughout its cutting length and against the stops 49 to assure perfect positioning at all times. The jaw members 50, 51 are adapted to have their outer ends clamp the blade first and providing a slight clearance at the rear edge of the blade, thus putting the pressure where it is required (the area next to the cutting edge).

With the tape blade 23, this can be changed periodically to extend the life of the blade.

It will be noted that the jaws 50, 51 extend out to the cutting edge during the changing operation and force the blade rearwardly against the stops 49. This is an obvious advantage over conventional razors where the blade is positioned in such cases against the cutting edge thereof.

Since the take up magazine is in a zone approximately one-eighth of an inch rearwardly disposed of the supply magazine, the take up channel 28 is wide enough to permit the slight warping of the used blade length.

The used blade will be discarded in the take up magazine as a unit. It will be noted that at no time in threading or discarding the blade is the user exposed to a sharp cutting edge. Also, due to the long length of blade if formed of the proper material, it is possible that the blade need not be changed for long periods, for example a year.

' From the foregoing description of my invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it Will be noted that I provide a safety razor employing a tape blade having a minimum number of details of manufacture. The tape blade as assembled in manufacture eliminates many hazards which may be associated if the blade were placed into position by the user. Furthermore, after the blade is assembled, the magazine is readily sealed. The magazine is of simple construction and can be produced at relatively low cost as a molded part.

The advantages of my invention are that a very small number of parts is needed to manufacture the same, and the safety zone channel assures perfect positioning of the blade, permitting easy handling of the razor.

The blade tape is positioned, by the physical characteristic of the blade jaws 50, 51 co-acting with the bases of the magazines. In addition there are no hazards in handling the blade nor are there any supplemental parts required which as heretofore could be readily lost or mislaid.

There are also provided in my invention, frictional means employed between the cover and side cup in the magazine to provide tension and proper alignment of the tape blade in the shaving zone. The jaws associated with the shaving zone are so positioned and contoured as to provide safe and easy shaving, and the clearance between the jaws and blade is reduced to a minimum to prevent any lodging of hair. Any water or soap entering the magazine is easily discharged from the slots in the cup of the magazine.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been described and illustrated, it is to be noted that various changes as to form, use and arrangement of parts and of materials may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety razor comprising a handle, a body portion integral with the handle, supply means housed in the center of said body portion for supplying a blade, said blade being a spiral roll of razor tape mountable inside the supply means adapted to extend along and be exposed from part of the perimeter of said body portion to permit shaving, rotatable take up means in said body portion for drawing said tape across the top part of said perimeter, and blade mounting means extending across the exposed 7 part of thes'p'erimeter, said mounting'means engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the. blade with the non-' cutting; edge thereof in abutment with positioning stop means, said mounting means comprising a laterally ex' tending guide bar formed in said body portion below the exposed part of the perimeter thereof, said guide bar having a flat upper surface, a plurality of laterally spaced stops extendingupwardly from the upper surface of said guide bar in spaced relationship to the forward edge thereof, said stops being in alignment with each other along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade and abutting the non-cutting edge thereof so as to position the cutting edge in proper spaced relationship to the front face of said guide bar, and positioning means for retaining the blade across the top surface of said guide bar in abutment with said stops, said positioning means comprising a. pair of superimposed jaws adapted to. overlie said guide bar within the exposed part of the perimeter, a hollow cylindrical portion integral with and connecting said jaws, whereby to urge said jaws into resilient contact With the blade disposed intermediate their free ends, said jaws having vertically aligned slots receiving said stops upwardly therethrough, said slots elon gated to permit'forward movement of the said jaws towards the: front face of. said guide bar for positioning the blade therebetween, lever means for separating said jaws; to facilitate the insertion of the blade therebetween and means for drawing said jaws rearwardly after clampingthexblade so as to positionthe non-cutting edge thereof against said stops.

2. A safety razor. according to claim 1, said means for separating said jaws comprising said cylindrical portion.

having. a pair. of longitudinally spaced openings, a U.-shaped lever having the free ends thereof passing inwardly through said openings in said cylindrical member, said openings. being on the undersurface of said cylindricalmember and extending through at least ninety degrees on. the undersurface thereof, whereby to permit rotation of. said lever member, and enlargements on the inner ends. of said lever arms adapted to retain the same within said cylindrical member, said enlargements having acam. surface adapted to separate said jaws upon rotation of said lever. into a plane parallel to the plane of said jaws.

a 3. A; safety razor according to claim 2, saidmeansi for drawing. said jaws rearwardly comprising a rearwardly extending projection formed on the rear face of said. body: below said cylindrical portion and a pair of re-- silicntstops secured to said body portion below said rearwardly extending portion and adapted to snap said lever;

into a vertical position into abutment with the rear face of said rearwardly extending projection whereby to fulcrum. said lever about said rear face of said rearwardly extending projection and to draw the forward ends of saidjaw slots into abutment with said stops with the blade therebetween.

4. A safety razor according to claim 3, said supply means positioned on the front face of said body portion below said guide bar, said take up means being positioned on the rear face of said body portion below said positioning means, said front face having a peripheral slot extending from said supply means to the exposed part of the body portion, said front face having a second peripheral slot extending from the exposed part at the other end thereof extending towards said supply means, said second slot extending rearwardly through saidbody portion to said take up means, said'second slot having a relatively wide clearance with respect to said blade whereby'to permit warpingof the latter as it passes rearwardly to said take up means, said second slot having a relatively wide clearance with respect to said bladewhereby to permit warping of the latter as it'passes rearwardly to said take up means.

5. A safety razor. comprising a handle and a triangular shaped head member extending from said handle at an angle greater than a right angle and having a groove in the perimeter thereof, an opening in the front thereof, a roll of spiral and tensioned shaving tape for said opening, an opening in the rear face of the member for taking up the tape as it is moved through the groove, said head member having'a peripheral opening exposing said groove and tape across alshaving zone, and tape mounting means across saidshaving zone adapted to receive the blade therebetween in tensional engagement therewith,

said mounting means. including resilient jaws embracing the tape, and stop means adapted to abut the non-cutting edge of the tape to insure positioning the cutting edge thereof with. respect to the front face of said head member.

6. A safety razor comprising ahandle, a body portion connected to said handle, a guide bar formed along the edge of said body remote from said handle and adapted to contact the area to be shaved, said guide bar having a flat upper surface, a pluralityof laterally spaced stops secured to the. upper surface. of said guide bar in spaced relationship to the forward edge thereof, a pair of superimposed plates adapted toreceive therebetween. the blade 1 with its cutting edge disposed-outwardly above. said guide bar, a hollow cylindrical portion formed integrally with and connecting Withthe. other ends of said plates whereby. to urge the same into resilient contact with the blade, said cylindrical portion extending rearwardly of said body portion, said superimposed plates having vertically aligned slots receiving saidstops upwardly therethrough, said slots being elongated and in a direction disposed at right angles to the cutting edge of the blade to permit the shifting of said plates, means for. separating said. plates to position thebladetherebetween, and means for drawing said plates rearwardly against said stops with. the blade therebetween. 7. Asafety razor according to claim 6, including downwardly and outwardly bentlugs at opposite ends ofthe lowermost of said plates, the rear face of said body portion having corresponding slots. receiving said lugs whereby to. position said plates above said guide bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

